How did I live so long without a slip clutch?

[charlesw]

Well, I don't know. But now I have one. And it rocks. Life before this... I broke 3 shear bolts then just gave up and bought a box of 50 of them. Would you like to know how many of them I've broken? Easily 30. I suppose, if pressed, I could go check. It's not really important. That's all done with. I should have got the slip clutch to begin with - it ended up costing about the same as the 50 bolts and (hopefully) it will be much kinder on the tractor!

FWIW, the tractor is a F-NH 3930 and I've been running a 6' brush cutter. I was breaking that many bolts 'cause I'm clearing some pretty rough terrain. After I get the trees and brush taken care of I will run a subsoiler then a plow then I'm not sure what - but something to make this a bit less rough! I mean, this rough part... I can't mow much less drive faster than 2 low...

 

[Rookie2320]

Where did you get it? Can I use one on my PHD?
Thanks.

 

[charlesw]

Interesting. I don't know! I mean, I suppose (I've never had a PHD and there was no documentation with the clutch). Why? You losing a lot of bolts??? I got mine through Agri-Supply - just search on slip clutch and you'll get to the right page.

 

[Grrrr]

Is it like an inline slip clutch that you put on the tractor and then the pto shaft of the mower goes on to it? Have you got a picture of it, I would be interested in trying to find one here in the UK. I know what you mean about shear bolts too, I am always getting more of them (the baler has a real appetite for them) I think they must be taken by the 'shear bolt thiefs'

 

[john_bud]

Charlesw,

Your opion will change to one dominated by four letter words if you fail to maintain the slip clutch. They ALL get stuck over time. Some as quick as an idle week. Depends on weather and use.

You MUST loosen the spring bolts and allow the clutch to slip if the implement has sat for some time. Over a dry summer in the shed it may sit for 1-2 months with no issue. If it is outside and left in the rain, it could be a week. Just depends. But if it is rusted stuck, there is NO PROTECTION and either the implement or the tractor can break. That is more costly than a bag of bolts!


Enjoy !

jb

 

[charlesw]

Is it like an inline slip clutch that you put on the tractor and then the pto shaft of the mower goes on to it? Have you got a picture of it

It's inline and I don't have a picture. Um...
ASC # 31951
(And that's the one I got, I think.)

 

[charlesw]

Your opion will change to one dominated by four letter words if you fail to maintain the slip clutch.

Ah, but I didn't upgrade my bolts - so the shear would still fail like it's supposed to if the stress gets that high!

 

[sandman2234]

Best insurance is to maintain it anyway, as if the shear bolts aren't there. The money spent on it was thrown away if you don't take a few minutes to loosen the bolts and load the bush hog till it slips. Not a big deal or very time consuming. The shear bolt left in place will try to protect your gearbox whereas the slip clutch will try to protect your pto drive and further on the tractor. Well worth the money spent and the added maintance.
David from jax

 

[john_bud]

Ah, but I didn't upgrade my bolts - so the shear would still fail like it's supposed to if the stress gets that high!

Actually, that is not strictly true. If the slip clutch is maintained for a while, the shear bolt side may rust shut and double or tripple the torque load needed to shear the bolt.

Spending 15 min 3x a year isn't that big of a deal.

jb

 

[IslandTractor]

I'm glad to see this thread on maintenance as I just got the same slip clutch from AgriSupply delivered by UPS this morning. This is the second one I ordered as I screwed up and forgot that my existing PTO shaft and gearbox have smooth surfaces rather than splined. Now that I have the right device I'll install it. Then, once I get my PTO shaft unstuck (see other thread) I'll be in business again. I haven't broken 30 bolts but the 6 or 7 I have broken have cost me more time than 15 minutes three times a year in maintenance and of course the always break while working in the field which is a PITA.